'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎504] (593/905)

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EL LOWA AND EL LEDJA.
[CHAP. XX.
Ruins at Om It is situated on a low hill, and has a circumference of about
Ezzeitun. ^ wo m ii es> There are some inscriptions, with the ruins of two
inferior temples, one of which is of the Ionic order, and a
reservoir of about thirty feet diameter, probably once a crater,
which has been increased by excavating the rock. In the
centre is the shaft of a column, intended to show the depth of
water. The stream continues to make a tortuous course north
westward along this fine valley, which displays in many places
luxuriant herbage, and passes the villages of Essamera, Om
Haretein, El Hadher, Khelkeir, Meharetein, El Hazzem, and
Essura, from whence it inclines rather eastward of north, and
terminates in the Bahret-el-Merdj. Besides the preceding
places, which are only occasionally inhabited, the extensive
plain on each side of the Lowa contains many interesting re
mains, such as the castle and temple of Sour; the extensive
ruins of Soneira ; and also some at the villages of Hyatti, El
Hait, and Mejaddan ; but at present there are little more than
the pastures of the Arabs, and some small spots cultivated by
the Druses, in the intervals between the masses of volcanic
rocks.
The surface of The Ledja extends westward from the preceding valley to
the Ledja. 0 f Loehf. It is rather larger than Es Szaffa, and
although the soil is stony, it contains several pasture tracts
and some cultivation, particularly in the outer portion of the
district. The interior is occupied by the Selman, the Medledj,
the Szolout the Dhouhire, and the Siale tribes of Arabs, who
breed a vast number of goats. 1 Some of them also keep a few
sheep and cows, and occasionally sow wheat and barley in
certain spots. The surface of the greater part of the Ledja
presents a labyrinth of volcanic rocks cleft asunder in various
shapes, but generally forming a series of concentric circles,
separated by fissures from 15 to 20 feet deep, through which,
by any stranger at least, an exit is found with extreme diffi
culty. This tract represents the north-western part of the
rugged Trachonites, 2 in whose rock-bound recesses the Arabs
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 111.
2 Strabo, lib. XVI., p. 155.